"If you think you need floating point to solve the problem then you don't understand the problem. If you really do need floating point then you have a problem you do not understand." - Heater's ex-boss

I own several "genuine" ST-Links i.e. the onboard debugger on Nucleo boards. These are just software running on regular STM32F103 chips. There are no complex level conversions or input protection.

So it costs ST nothing more than the assembly cost and chip cost. If the Chinese can make a BluePill for $2 and a ST-Link dongle for $3 I am not surprised.

Likewise ST can make and sell Nucleo boards for $10. You end up with evaluation boards that are infinitely better than Atmel XMINI or XPRO. (But the XPRO do contain extra hardware)

I would guess that the Chinese do not pay any licence fee for the ST-Link firmware.

I would guess that the components used are serviceable but may not be 100% QC spec.

As it happens, I ordered a cheap BluePill and cheap ST-Link dongle for a project that would be "inconvenient" to program with the Nucleo debugger. I am 100% confident that SWD uploads will work. It will be interesting to see whether debugging is 100%.

If I was ST, I would be annoyed by the Chinese using ST logos and ripping off ST firmware.

Likewise Atmel / Microchip would be annoyed by Chinese ripping off Pickit or EDBG.

If you buy a PicKit or ATMEL-ICE you get a nice plastic case, quality components and electrical protection.

If you buy a Chinese ST-Link, you get 3.3V operation. If something fails you can buy a new one.

Just ordered one of those chinese ST-Links a few days ago, for €1.60 and free shipping. I just don't understand how this is possible (the free shipping halfway across the globe, I mean), but who cares... taking advantage while it lasts...

Edit: it will take a month or so to arrive, as usual. But meanwhile, I sometimes like to imagine the adventures these orders go through in their voyage. Maybe packed in the corner of a container inside a gigantic container carrier crossing the oceans, maybe in the cargo hold of a beaten down soviet era cargo plane flying over Siberia, maybe trafficked by Afghani opium lords...

Segger even gives the upgrade code to extend the on board ST Link to a J-Link. I suspect it is a good way to market their direct product so the user wants more functionality ... Like a trial size sample.

Maybe packed in the corner of a container inside a gigantic container carrier crossing the oceans, maybe in the cargo hold of a beaten down soviet era cargo plane flying over Siberia, maybe trafficked by Afghani opium lords...

... or maybe by rail.

New Eastern Outlook

One Belt, One Road Project is Making the World a Safer Place
by Dmitry Bokarev
10.05.2017

The group of 17 European countries that have a direct rail link with China has recently been joined by the United Kingdom. On April 12, 2017, the first freight train was sent from England to China. Its 7500 miles long journey started in Stanford-le-Hope, England, and stretched across the territories of seven states – France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan. The road ends in the Chinese city of Yiwu, Zhejiang Province and takes three weeks, which is twice as fast as to travel to China by sea from England.

Just ordered one of those chinese ST-Links a few days ago, for €1.60 and free shipping. I just don't understand how this is possible (the free shipping halfway across the globe, I mean), but who cares... taking advantage while it lasts...

Edit: it will take a month or so to arrive, as usual. But meanwhile, I sometimes like to imagine the adventures these orders go through in their voyage. Maybe packed in the corner of a container inside a gigantic container carrier crossing the oceans, maybe in the cargo hold of a beaten down soviet era cargo plane flying over Siberia, maybe trafficked by Afghani opium lords...

All this included in "free shipping"

I ordered a ST-Link dongle for £2.24 on 28 June. It arrived today. 12 days is not unusual from China Post. The cheapest on Ebay is £1.85. I am not going to quibble over £0.39.

It works just fine with Keil, Rowley, stm32duino, ...

Regarding shipping from China. As far as I know, they just fill a big box full of packets destined for Europe. When the box is full it goes on the next plane. Hence you get the "minimal freight cost".

If Chinese companies want to, they can send packets via a premium service. Look at the Ebay vendors that "claim to have a European warehouse" but promise 5 day delivery. They probably send a daily parcel from their Chinese warehouse to Europe (at extra cost to them).

"If you think you need floating point to solve the problem then you don't understand the problem. If you really do need floating point then you have a problem you do not understand." - Heater's ex-boss